A Fresh Start

Muslims and Globalization: Untangle the Way Out From the Darkness of Grievances Sagaciously

Though the word
“globalization” is a 20th century one, the concept or practical meaning of the
word is not. Many eastern civilizations, from India to China, for example, had
embarked on globalization where different linguistic, cultural, religious,
racial and economic backgrounds co-existed largely peacefully before Western
colonization took place. Globalization can be argued of having both positive
and negative impact on modern human society. The results of globalization can
be seen today in the form of multiculturalism which can be regarded as
generally positive, while consumerism, another product of globalization, is
mostly viewed as the poison of modern society. This article will argue that with
the beginning of the decline of American global influence, multiculturalism
will expand rapidly to replace the
domination of a single superpower with a much more democratic way of
co-existence between nations and cultures of the world. With this new global
order, multiculturalism will shape things to come. Indeed, Muslim society like
other societies which have be part of globalization it has changed the way they
think and behave.

This article will
scrutinize actions that can be taken to overcome the oblique views from other
societies towards Muslims. The systematic provocations, Islamophobia,
discrimination, and suspicious apparently lead Muslims to take unexpected
actions. For instance, the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France giving
complete traumatism to the world. They start to think how berserk Muslims towards
the freedom of speech and expression. In fact, they think all Muslims are
narrow minded in freedom of speech and expression. After all, the terrorism
action is from the individual himself, and it is unjust to stereotype all
Muslims are terrorist. Basically, there are few modus operandi that Muslims
could take to overcome this situation judiciously.

In the midst of
chaotic world, where everyone in finding the best solutions to those predicaments,
a few group of Muslims from some parts of the world endeavoring to overcome
those problems. Shulman, R (2012) highlights efforts by some Muslims especially
women in tackling rising social and moral problems. In Morocco for example,
these women are called ‘Murshida’ and they highly trained to deal with teen
pregnancy, alcohol, drug abuse and AIDS. This is one example how some Muslims
today are taking action rather than simply talking. Unfortunately, the number
of Muslims who are taking proactive actions is small. Doubtlessly, the chaos of
the world and the systematically provocations infuriated Muslims. Thus,
increasing social problems. In addition, this is more embarrassing when social
problems are mostly committing by those who are Muslims. ‘Murshida’ are group
of Muslims precisely women who take proactive measures to help reducing social
problems. ‘Murshida’ searching and gather the group of problematic people to be
given moral support, advice and provide guidance in terms of Islamic religious
education them. As stated in the New
Straits Times dated March 5, 2015 under the heading “Put into practice a
religion of moderation” of those who receive religious education in a simpler
way and has been nurtured from childhood could reduce social problems from
continuing.

The existence of
Union of Islamic Organization of France (UIOF) is equally important in helping
the right education about politics and religion. This is due to the fact that, the
lack and shortages of Islamic education and politics towards young Muslims. Those inefficiencies lead to Islamism or Radical Islam. Yahya, H (2015) believes
many young Muslims join Islamic State (IS) because of the propaganda
techniques, those who are ignorant of religion are prefer to defend Islam
emotionally rather than debate the issue intellectually. Interestingly, many
fighters and volunteers for IS come from many different countries including the
West as well as from different cultural economic background. This shows how
essential the existence of UIOF for the young Muslims in the West precisely. On
the other hand, UIOF is an organization in supporting each other Muslims by
giving moral supports and strengthen the unity of Muslims. As mentioned in the world
press of how obsessive the Non-Muslims in the West especially stab Islam with
exuberance of provocations that might inflame the anger of Muslims. Indeed, this
is the crucial part whereby the UIOF should role playing to educate the Muslims
in the West to keep calm, and debate do not easily fall into the trap.

Furthermore, as what
has been stressed out by Biddle, C (2006) under the article ‘Religion versus
Free Speech’ that the Non-Muslims should best realize that the right of freedom
of speech derived from God and a person should not violate the rights by offending
God. In fact, Bible says the same thing. One should not be unlimited in using
the freedom of speech. After all, the systematic provocations commit by the
Non-Muslims in the West as Charlie Hebdo for example that simply infuriating
Muslims to attack the Charlie Hebdo’s staffs cruelly. Aziz, A (2015) argues
that the Charlie Hebdo tragedy is not unexpected. In line with other tragedies
like killing in Copenhagen, and massive attack in Bardo National Museum in
Tunisia made world viewing Islam as harsh and brutal. Those few groups, such as
the Murshida in Morocco, UIOF, West Valley Muslim Association in New York, and
over fifty Muslim Organization in United States of America play an important
role in strengthen the unity of Muslims at once educate the young Muslims to
not fall into the trap of the West. Those who are fall into the trap are
because they are at their weakest point and they are blinded in seeing other
alternatives way to defend Islam.

On the contrary, the
other social ills just birth out which can be call as gadget fatigue. This is
undeniably one of the challenges for Muslims living in the digital age.
Obsession with digital technology can have a negative impact on society because
it may create social recluse (Jaafar, 2015). In Japan, they put a term
‘hikikomori’ for those coveys who are literally shut-ins themselves and
becoming digital addicts. In the other words, mostly young Muslims today misuse
the facility given. In spite of that, the no boundaries knowledge could be use
by young Muslims today in defending Islam wisely. The generation today, should
be more creative and critical in thinking on how to defend Islam judiciously
and without being emotional. Nevertheless, what happen today is vice versa as
many Muslims respond violently and ineffectively to the organized provocations.
Today, the Muslims world is facing the growing tendency of many young people
who choose violence and radicalism to defend the prophet and religion (Yahya,
2015). Radicalism among Muslim youth is spreading via social media. Another
reason why most young Muslims become radical is because their understanding is
limited and misinterpretation towards Islam either it is too literal or narrow.
The young Muslims today should learn on how to write excessive amounts of
articles to defend Islam intellectually.

Additionally, the
Muslim’s Journalists should include Muslims’ opinions, perspectives, solid
arguments supported by Quranic verses and Hadiths. Giving robust arguments
might trigger out clear understanding about Islam and its’ holiness for all the
people around the globe. In producing these types of young Muslim’s
journalists, all universities should create more ‘thinking graduates’ (Karim,
2014). This means, instead of the learning process in university following
closely to the syllabus, they should create more entertaining learning process
and perhaps creating new subject to enhance the critical and creative thinking
of students. As an illustration, International Islamic University Malaysia
(IIUM) has Creative Thinking and Problem Solving subject that apparently
enliven the thinking skills among the students. To simplify, writing more
articles to defend Islam that has been treated ridiculously is undoubtedly one
of the best ways to debate the issue brilliantly. In point of fact, Muslims
over-emphasized their suffering and problems (Merican, 2015). Instead of
exaggerating our problems or expostulate the West and expecting us to get the
privilege, we have to stand firm and use the print and the digital media skilfully
to deal with provocations.

Living in the world
of modernity, and dealing with digital age it is momentous for the family
institution getting involved and concern towards this issue. Unfortunately,
this issue regarding radicalism, tricky propaganda, and organized provocations
might damage our future generation. In dealing with all social ills, Muslims
should not get influenced by the negativeness. However, family institution of
Muslims should be more positive thinking in order to unriddle these problems at
once seeing things wider. Indeed, family institution might be part of
globalization and key to figure out alternative ways to avoid more Muslims
snare in social ills or dealing with systematic provocations as well as
Islamophobia by involving in extremism. Arumugam, T (2015) highlights that parents
must note signs of kids being influenced by terrorists. As what can be quoted
from Collette Gee the Holistic Love Coach and Speaker from the Huffpost Living
Canada website “stop blaming other people and pick up a mirror”. This should
have been done by Muslims today to check upon ourselves and find out our
weaknesses to improve them.

As
mentioned previously, family institution is the vital key in noticing any
behavioural changes towards their children. Perhaps, their children’s
behaviours change drastically of being too extreme and out-spoken when it comes
to religion issue. Next, the parents should notice the change in dress code of
their children and routine that quite abnormal. Not only that, but also the
parents should mind if their children have unusually secretive behaviour and
spending time more on social networks. Additionally, if the parents notice
their children has a sudden close friendship with an anonymous, and their
children start to change their way of interact or the different in their
children’s language, the parents must figure out the way to strengthen the
relationship between the parents and the children. To save the future
generation and to stand firm defending Islam, Muslims must arise and be
creative to nurture love among Muslims ourselves foremost in a family
institution. The shocking incident whereby a 14 year old girl was recently
arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in attempting heading
to Cairo, Egypt to marry a student there before going to Syria and joining the
IS must be avoided.

Consequently, ‘globalization’ can be a word that
possessed the perspective of positive impact, or the impression of negative
part. After all, when it comes to the word ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslim’ which have been
globalized and giving the auto-bad notions after a lot of tragedies triggered
by Muslim. From the 1980s, it was not just Muslims who look like exaggerating our
problems; this can be say that the Western people are less in concerning their
social problems. In fact, they prefer to concern more on economic, and health.
Essentially, still giving the better perspective on Islam, and Muslim needs
efforts and a lot of improvements. In other words, accounting our failures,
faults, and weaknesses in order to fix the parts which wrong, to improve self
rather than sit back and relax.